The “Golden Apple” awards awarded people who contributed to the wellbeing of children

The award for “School” went to Primary School “Nikola Ikonomov” in Razgrad for having elaborated an integrated strategy which guarantees the rights of the children and modern quality education according to new standards. The school has 635 pupils from different ethnical backgrounds and the faculty manages to ensure a calm creative educational atmosphere while no cases of racial or religious segregation are allowed.
The award in the “Hospital” category was given to the MHAT “Dr. Nikola VAsiliev” in Kyustendil. The hospital cooperates with NGOs and institutions in cases of children in risk on different problems and individual cases; works actively on keeping of underage mothers with children with health risks, supervises and counsels pregnant women without health insurance.
The award for “Municipality” went to Vratza municipality for their effort to find possibilities to improve the wellbeing of children and their families, as well as a multitude of implemented projects aimed at children and families at risk. The municipality puts a lot of effort in developing social services and also achieving a good partnership with NGOs.
The award in the “Journalist” category was given to Bela Cholakova from the “168 chasa” (168 hours) newspaper. For years she has covered adoption in its different aspects. Her press materials on the subject of adoption are precise and positive and are a step towards changing society values and creating a more favourable and accepting environment for adopted children.
The award for “Benefactor” went to “United Milk Company” for the project “Milk for everyone”, implemented in the last three years. For the duration of the program over 20 tons of dairy products were donated and distributed among homes, shelters, centers and poor families.
The “Award for overall contribution to the Network for Children” was given to Tzveta Brestnichka, Chairperson of the Board of “Parents” Association and one of the founders of the Network for Children. Tzveta Brestnichka received the award from Georgi Apostolov, Chairman of the Board of National Netowok for Children. “The power of the network lies in the fact that together bigger and smaller organizations we can make a change and the award is for all these people” said Tzveta Brestnichka upon receiving the award.
A Special award for contribution for improving the well-being of children was presented to the Ombudsman of Bulgaria – Mrs. Maya Manolova, who in the last three years works exclusively for protecting the rights and welfare of children. She puts a great effort in confirming the role of the Ombudsman institution as an advocate for children’s rights and actively advocates on topics like the need for reform in the children’s judicial system, violence against women and children, cases of lack of access to health services, support for children of work immigrants, adoption confidentiality and rights of adopters and adopted.
Alumni from the “Arteanci” children’s academy created the prizes for the “Golden Apple” Awards